YouGov: Half of UK bettors opposed to arbitrary betting limits
BGC-commissioned survey also reveals 59% of punters would consider black market if loss limits are imposed after Gambling Act 2005 review
A new YouGov survey has found 51% of UK adults are opposed to the introduction of mandatory loss limits.
The poll of 1,683 adults commissioned by the BGC discovered more than half opposed the introduction of limits, compared to just 27% who supported their introduction.
The survey was carried out as the Gambling Commission continues its affordability consultation, amid calls for a £100 affordability soft cap on the amount punters can lose each month.
In addition, YouGov found that 59% of respondents said that they would potentially switch to unlicensed gambling sites “if there are too many limits placed on people to bet”.
Addressing the results, BGC CEO Michael Dugher voiced the trade body’s support for the Gambling Act 2005 review, as long as it does not enable the black market.
“Black market online operators are the modern-day internet equivalent of the ‘Peaky Blinders’ – dangerous, illegal backstreet bookies, run by organised crime,” Dugher explained.
“Anti-gambling prohibitionists may downplay the threat posed by the black market, but this poll reinforces the importance of the UK not sleepwalking into changes which lead to unintended consequences like fuelling illegal operators online,” he added.
Dugher voiced his support for continuing to allow punters to set their own limits, rather than the imposition of arbitrary thresholds.
“Affordability checks are also a good thing,” Dugher said.
“But technology enables betting companies to see where customers are starting to display what we call ‘markers of harm’. In this way, potential problem gamblers and others who may be more at risk could be subject to enhanced affordability checks.
“Such a move would potentially also have serious ramifications for horseracing in particular, which relies heavily on the money it receives from the betting levy,” he added.
It has been suggested the horseracing industry could lose as much as £60m in reduced levy revenue if loss limits were implemented.
In February, former GVC CEO Kenny Alexander claimed a £100 affordability cap would cause “enormous damage” to the horseracing industry.